Kinetico PREMIER XP Series User manual

Model/Product Numbers:
S150 XP (16531)
S250 XP (16532)
S250 OD XP (16533)
S350 XP (16534)
S550 XP (16535)
S650 XP (16536)
S650 OD XP (16537)
Q850 XP (16538)
Q850 OD XP with Activated Carbon(16539)
Q850 OD XP with Chloraban® (16540)
Owner’s Manual •Guide d’utilisation • Manual del usuario
KINETICO PREMIER SERIES® XP
WATER SOFTENERS

HigH Performance Water SoftenerS
and combination SyStemS
oWner’Smanual
Unit shown with
optional Kinetco
SuperKit®
Congratulations for choosing Kinetico to improve the quality of your water.
You will immediately begin to notice the numerous benefits of having quality
water throughout your home and the benefits of having a Kinetico Quality
Water System.
Since 1970, Kinetico Incorporated has designed and manufactured products
to improve the quality of your water. Kinetico oers a complete line of quality
water systems to solve your water problems. Pioneers in non-electric, demand
operated water treatment, Kinetico continually sets the direction for the entire
water quality industry.
© 2019 Kinetico Incorporated
“Kinetico,” the Kinetico logo, "Premier Series", and “Overdrive” are registered trademarks in the
United States, other countries or both, of Kinetico Incorporated, Newbury, Ohio.

table of contentS
Kinetico Water Softeners and Combination Systems ....................... 5
What Makes Your Kinetico Premier Series®XP Water Softener Dierent
Is What Makes It Better .................................................. 7
How Your Water System Works .......................................... 9
Kinetico Combination Systems .......................................... 10
Maintaining Your Water System ..........................................12
Changing the Filter ..................................................... 12
Adding Regenerant ..................................................... 13
XP Regeneration Meter.................................................. 14
Manual Regeneration.................................................... 14
By-pass ............................................................... 14
Cold Weather Protection ................................................ 15
Sanitizing the System ................................................... 15
Iron Cleaning ........................................................... 15
Salt Bridge ............................................................. 15
Commonly Asked Questions ............................................ 16
Glossary of Terms ..................................................... 18
Softening System Diagram ............................................. 19
Maintenance Record ................................................... 20
Version Francaise .......................................................F1
Version Espanõl.........................................................E1
Kinetico Incorporated
10845 Kinsman Rd.
Newbury, Ohio, 44065
USA
www.kinetico.com
Kinetico UK Limited
Bridge House
Park Gate Business Centre
Chandler’s Way
Park Gate SO 31 1FQ
England
www.kinetico.co.uk
Kinetico Canada Incorporated
21 Parr Blvd., Unit 10
Bolton, ON L7E 4G3
Canada
www.kinetico.com
Kinetico France
Sarl
B.P. 80528 Osny
95528 Cergy-Pontoise Cedex
France
www.kinetico.fr
Kinetico Denmark
ApS
Sandvadsvej7
4600 Køge
Denmark
Kinetico Germany GmbH
Bunzlauerstrasse 12-D
Höher-Grenzhausen
Germany 56203

5
2
1
Kinetico Water SoftenerS and combination SyStemS
Now that your Kinetico water system is installed, you can enjoy all the benefits
of having soft water. If you are not accustomed to soft water, here are some tips
to follow to get the most benefit from your new system:
HoW to uSe Soft Water
Use pure soap products.
Most leading brands of laundry soaps, household cleaners and shampoos
contain large amounts of detergent. The harsh chemicals in these detergents
are necessary when using hard water, but you can reduce your use or eliminate
them altogether with soft water. We recommend you use pure soap products;
clear liquid soaps without dyes and perfumes. If you continue to use your
normal detergent, you should significantly reduce the amount used. Your
local, authorized Kinetico dealer can provide you with more information and
recommended detergent amounts.
Use less soap and household cleaners.
When using soap or cleaners with soft water, start by cutting the amount of
soap you normally use in half. You may even find you can use as little as one-
quarter the amount you were using before. Hardness minerals in water interfere
with soap’s cleaning ability. Once they are removed, soap can do its job better.
Even though you’ll use less soap, you’ll get more suds and cleaner results.
It’s especially important to reduce the
amount of laundry soap you use. Washing
clothes in soft water not only means you’ll
need less soap to get your clothes clean, but
also that the soap you do use will rinse out
completely. Washing in soft water makes your
clothes look whiter and brighter, and they’ll
last longer too. It is very important not to let
your clothes sit in the washer after the cycle
is complete. Otherwise, mildew and a musty
smell could develop. Detergent buildup
can stain your clothing. Again, Kinetico
recommends that you use clear, liquid soaps,
without dyes or perfumes.
After bathing in soft water, your skin should feel “slippery.” It’s not soap left
on your skin. What you’re feeling is your own smooth skin without any leftover
soap curd or residue. When you bathed in hard water, you were never able to
rinse this residue o completely. The soap curd that left a ring in your bathtub
was also left on your skin. But now that you have soft water, you’ll feel soft,
smooth and clean. The same holds true for rinsing shampoo out of your hair.

4
5
3
6
Reduce or eliminate the use of fabric softeners.
Fabrics washed in hard water retain soap curd or residue making them “crackle”
when removed from the dryer or sti if air-dried. Fabric softeners are necessary
with hard water to keep your clothing soft, but with soft water, you can reduce
your use of fabric softeners or eliminate them altogether.
Take special precautions with automatic dishwashers.
Soft water, when combined with caustic phosphates in some dishwasher detergents
and very high temperatures in the dry cycle, can etch dishes and glassware. To
prevent this possibility:
• use the “no heat” dry cycle on your dishwasher;
• use the minimum amount of a good quality, low phosphate dishwasher
detergent needed to clean your dishes. This may be as little as 20 percent
of the amount recommended by the appliance manufacturer or on the
dishwasher soap box;
• wash fine china and crystal by hand.
Special care for plants and fish.
Depending on your water hardness level, amount of rainfall and how often
you water, you could use soft water for outside watering, but why waste your
soft water? Water your lawn, shrubs and outside plants from an outside hard
water faucet or put your Kinetico water system in by-pass before watering.
See “By-pass” on page 14 for instructions on by-passing your system. Many
houseplants can be watered with soft water, although some houseplants can
be highly sensitive to the elevated level of sodium ions in soft water. You may
prefer to water houseplants with hard water or water from a Kinetico reverse
osmosis system.
Fish accustomed to hard water may have
trouble with an abrupt change to soft water.
Make the change gradually over a period of
seven to 14 days by blending hard and soft
water until the tank contains 100 percent soft
water. Once you begin using soft water, you
should notice that your fish tank stays cleaner
longer.

7
WHat maKeS your Kinetico Premier SerieS®XP Water
Softener different iSWHat maKeS itbetter
Kinetico water systems are powered by the energy of moving water, not electricity.
So there’s nothing to plug in, no buttons to push, timers to set and reset, or
adjustments to make. You really don’t need to do anything special to operate your
Kinetico water system—it runs itself.
Your Kinetico water system has a built-in water meter which means it operates “on
demand” based on your actual water usage. With demand operation, your Kinetico
water system can regenerate at any time of the day or night and you’ll still have plenty
of soft water available. It regenerates when necessary, so a simple flush of the toilet or
run of the faucet can send your Kinetico water system into regeneration. Depending
on your water usage, your Kinetico water system could regenerate more frequently (if
you have a house full of guests, for instance) or not at all for several days (if you’re on
vacation). Demand operation ensures maximum eciency while providing you with a
continuous supply of soft water — even as your water usage changes.
The actual regeneration process of a Kinetico water system is dierent from other
systems. Kinetico water systems use a process called countercurrent regeneration
(instead of an old fashioned, 4- or 5-cycle regeneration) which has long been
recognized as the optimum process for regenerating a resin bed (Fig. 1). Kinetico is
able to eectively use this process since our water systems regenerate with soft water.
The twin tank design of a Kinetico water system provides you with a continuous
supply of soft water any time of day, even through the regeneration process. When
one tank needs to regenerate, service automatically switches to the other tank
(Fig. 2). So go ahead and do a week’s worth of laundry in one day. Your Kinetico
water system can handle it.
Fig. 1
Highly Ecient Regeneration
Kinetico systems clean themselves with soft
water using countercurrent regeneration.
This process reduces regenerant and
water usage and regenerates the resin
beads more eectively.

8
overdrive®enHanced
Select Kinetico softening, filtration and combination systems are Overdrive
enhanced for maximum performance and eciency. With Overdrive, you can
expect better flow without compromising water quality.
Overdrive directs the flow of water through both tanks of the system simultaneously
during service cycles. Water flow is distributed evenly between the tanks, increasing
flow, increasing contact time with media and decreasing pressure loss through
the system. During a regeneration cycle, one tank is available to provide normal
service flow. When the cycle is complete, both tanks are immediately placed back
into service.
Should you have any questions or need any assistance, contact your local,
authorized Kinetico dealer.
NOTE: Repair leaky faucets, toilets or pipes to ensure proper product performance.
Fig. 2
Twin Tank Design
Twin tanks provide an
uninterrupted supply of soft
water, 24 hours a day.

9
HoW your Water SyStem WorKS
Hard water contains calcium and magnesium. Your Kinetico water system
contains resin beads, which hold sodium ions. When hard water passes through
the resin beads (Fig. 3) inside a Kinetico water system, the beads attract and
hold the calcium and magnesium ions in exchange for sodium. After this ion
exchange process, the water leaving your Kinetico water system is soft.
Once the resin bed is loaded with calcium and magnesium ions, it must be
cleansed (or regenerated) so that it can continue to soften water. The salt in your
salt storage tank mixes with water to wash the resin beads. The brine solution
loosens the hardness minerals which have built up on the resin beads; then the
system backwashes and flushes the hardness minerals and salt solution away.
Once this is complete, the resin beads hold sodium ions. The system is again ready
to exchange the sodium ions for more calcium and magnesium ions.
Fig. 3
Water Softener Water Containing Hardness Many Gallons Later Capacity to Soften Hard
Water Now Ending
Softening Cycle
1234
With Sodium Charged
Material
Completely Softened
Water Containing Sodium
in Exchange for Hardness
Water Softener Still
Delivering Completely
Softened Water
Regeneration with Salt
Brine now Necessary to
Recharge Material with
Sodium
Waste Water Containing
Hardness in Exchange
for Sodium
Water Softener Still
Discharging Wastewater
Containing Hardness
Excess Salt Brine Also
Removed Water Softener
Regeneration
Cycle
8
7
6
5
Salt Brine most
Economical Source of
Sodium
15 to 20 Minutes Later Regeneration Almost
Completed
Material Ready to Exchange
Sodium for Hardness and
Deliver Softened Water

10
Unlike most other systems, the Kinetico water system’s cleaning or regeneration
process is done with soft water. Since you already know what a dierence cleaning
with soft water can make throughout your home, it only makes sense that the
Kinetico water system cleans itself with soft water too. And only clean, soft water
is used to make the salt solution in the salt storage tank.
Kinetico combination SyStemS
Your Kinetico combination system is two systems in one! It provides additional
filtration capabilities above and beyond the softening performed by a standard
Kinetico water system. Kinetico combination systems have the same great features
that make our water systems so unique (see “What Makes Your Kinetico Premier
Series XP Water System Dierent...” section of this manual) as well as additional
technology designed to provide you with the best water possible.
Kinetico offerS tHe folloWing combination SyStemS:
Premier Series Q850 XP and Q850 OD XP -Activated Carbon*
High eciency water softening system with two tanks of activated carbon
for whole-house dechlorination. Reducing chlorine in your water allows you
to enjoy odor-free showers, eliminate the skin-drying eects of chlorine, and
prevent premature fading/bleaching of your favorite clothing and linens.
Premier Series Q850 OD XP -Chloraban®
High eciency water softening system with two tanks of Chloraban for whole-
house dechloramination. Reducing chloramine in your water allows you to
enjoy odor-free showers, eliminate the skin-drying eects of chloramine, and
prevent premature fading/bleaching of your favorite clothing and linens.
* Overdrive directs the flow of water through both tanks of the system simultaneously
during service cycles.
Chlorine/Chloramine reduction is not part of Standard 44 NSF/ANSI certification.

11
care and maintenance of your combination SyStem
To ensure your Kinetico combination system continues to operate at peak
performance, follow the procedures outlined in the “Maintaining Your System”
section of this owner’s manual.
The concentration of chlorine/chloramine in a water supply will determine the
life of the carbon/Chloraban in combination systems. You will have to replace
the carbon/Chloraban in your system when you begin to notice the return of a
chlorine/chloramine odor in your water. Expect to replace the carbon/Chloraban
every few years as a general rule, although it may last longer if your water supply
does not contain high levels of chlorine/chloramine.
Because Kinetico’s filtration media is automatically cleaned during regeneration, it
requires no additional maintenance.
If you have additional questions about the operation and maintenance of your
Kinetico combination system, please contact your local, authorized Kinetico dealer.
Q850 OD XP
Combination System

12
maintaining your Water SyStem
Your Kinetico water system is engineered to provide you with quality water
without requiring extensive maintenance. However, some routine maintenance is
necessary to keep your system working properly.
cHanging tHe filter
Your Kinetico system may use an optional in-line filter to remove solid material from
the inlet water supply. Periodically, the filter cartridge will require replacement. This
should occur when the water pressure in the home begins to gradually decrease.
The frequency of the filter change is determined by the amount of water used and
the solid material content of your water supply.
Open
Closed
O
On
2
1
5
3
6
4

13
Procedure
1. Turn o the feed water to the filter by turning the by-pass valve 1to the
BY-PASS position*.
2. Slowly turn the handle on the pressure relief valve 2to the OPEN
position**. Allow at least one minute for system to depressurize and to
minimize spillage.
3. When depressurized, remove the filter sump 3by turning it clockwise
(when viewed from above) with two hands.
4. Removethenewcartridgeandallcontentsfromtheprotectivepackaging,and
slide the bag over the used cartridge.
5. Remove the used cartridge by turning it clockwise. Discard used cartridge with
the bag, or clean and store for reuse.
6. Inspect and clean the sump seal and adapter O-ring, if necessary. Using the
included packet of silicone, lubricate entire seal, O-ring and the sealing
surface in the filter head 4.
NOTE: USE A SILICONE LUBRICANT ONLY. The use of any other lubricant, including
a petroleum-based lubricant, to install the O-rings is not in accordance with
Kinetico's installation recommendations and may void the applicable Limited
Warranty.
7. Install the new cartridge into the cartridge adapter by turning it counter-
clockwise until it stops 5.
8. Install the filter sump by turning it counter-clockwise until it stops. IMPORTANT!
Check alignment of arrows to assure proper assembly 6.
9. Turn the handle on the pressure relief valve to the CLOSED position 2.
10. Turn on the feed water by slowly turning the by-pass to the GREEN, “IN
SERVICE” position*.
* Your by-pass valve may be dierent than the one illustrated.
** Pressure relief valve may be in a dierent location than illustrated. If necessary, contact
your Kinetico dealer for assistance.
NOTE:Filter styles vary, and yours may not be exactly as previously described.
adding regenerant (water softener salt or potassium chloride)
Make sure your salt storage tank never runs out of regenerant. Refill regenerant
anytime before water is visible in the brine drum or softener cabinet (on cabinet
models). Use Kinetico Water Softener Salt, available from most Kinetico dealers,
or another quality brand. Some salts contain foreign particles which can cause
problems with your system, so be sure to use a quality grade of salt, processed
especially for use in water softeners. If you choose to use potassium chloride,
contact your local authorized Kinetico dealer to find out about the recommended
adjustments to your system. Your Kinetico dealer can also recommend or perform
a schedule of periodic maintenance. DO NOT USE ROCK SALT, as it often contains
significant levels of dirt or foreign matter.

14
XP regeneration meter
This valve allows for the adjustment
of regeneration frequency based
on inlet water hardness. This
improves system performance and
reduces water consumption. The
integrated system meter tracks the
volume of water processed and
after the adjustable set-point has
been reached, the regeneration
process begins. Adjustment of the
hardness adjustment knob should
always be made by an authorized
Kinetico service representative.
manual regeneration
If your salt storage tank does run out of salt, you can manually regenerate the
unit after adding salt. Using a #2 Phillips screwdriver, push down firmly on the
softener valve screw and slowly turn clockwise to start the regeneration. At this
point you should hear water begin to run through the system. If you do not hear
water running through the system, the disc has not been advanced far enough.
Repeat the procedure for manual regeneration after the water flow stops (11 to 90
minutes, depending on the model) to be sure both resin tanks are regenerated.
NOTE: If your hot water tank has refilled with hard water, it may take several days for
it to empty and for your water to feel soft again.
by-PaSS
There may be times when you need to shut
o the water supply to your entire house.
To do this, set the by-pass valve to the RED,
“OFF” position. No water will flow through the
house. To restart the water, set the by-pass
valve to the GREEN, “IN SERVICE” position.
You may put the softener into by-pass at any
time, if necessary, by putting the by-pass
valve into the YELLOW, “BY-PASS” position.
You will still get water throughout the house;
however, all of the water will be untreated. To
return the softener to service, set the by-pass
valve to the GREEN, “IN SERVICE” position.
NOTE: By-pass styles vary and yours may not be as described. Contact your
Kinetico dealer for further assistance.
Top View of Softener Valve
Meter Disc
Hardness
Adjustment
Knob
NOTE: Actual disc colors may vary. Colors shown
are for illustration purposes only.
Softener
Valve Actuator
Decal Window
Viewing Area

15
cold WeatHer Protection
If your Kinetico water system is installed outside or in an area that is not heated,
you may want to take precautionary measures to prevent damage to your unit
from freezing.
NOTE: Kinetico’s warranty doesn’t cover damage to your system due to freezing.
If you have questions about your Kinetico water system, or if you suspect that it isn’t
working properly, contact your local, authorized Kinetico dealer.
Sanitizing tHe SyStem
Kinetico water systems are intended for use on microbiologically safe water
supplies. If the inlet water supply’s safety is compromised for any reason
(for example a “Boil Alert” from a municipal supply or positive bacteria test
on a well), you should by-pass the system until bacteriological safety has been
restored. You should then contact your Kinetico dealer to sanitize the system
before returning the system to service.
iron cleaning
If the inlet water supply contains iron, it is a good idea to use salt that contains
an iron cleaning additive (for example, Kinetico Salt with Iron Fighter* additive).
The iron cleaning additive will prevent iron from fouling the resin and keep your
system in optimal condition. Alternately, you can add iron cleaning agents in
powder form to the brine tank when you replenish the salt supply. Contact your
Kinetico dealer for additional information about iron cleaning.
Salt bridge
The regenerant in the brine tank can, under certain conditions, solidify and form a
“salt bridge” preventing the system from making brine for regeneration. Conditions
known to contribute to salt bridging include high humidity, low water and salt
consumption, or the use of potassium chloride (KCl). If a salt bridge occurs, you
can attempt to break up the solidified salt by carefully poking the salt with a stick
or broom handle.
*Iron Fighter is a licensed trademark of Cargill, Incorporated.

16
commonly aSKed QueStionS
There has been a drop in my home’s water pressure. What can be the
cause?
During system regeneration a temporary drop in water pressure may occur. A
reduction in your home’s water pressure can also indicate that it is time to change
your filter. See pages 12 and 13 for instructions on changing the filter. If you do not
have a filter with your system or changing the filter has no eect, contact your
local, authorized Kinetico dealer.
My system seems to be regenerating more frequently. Is this normal?
Remember, your Kinetico system is demand-operated, adjusting automatically to
your water usage. If you do not think that your water usage has increased due to
extra house guests, additional laundry or some other reason, check for any leaky
plumbing, dripping faucets or running toilets; all of which can contribute to more
frequent regenerations.
My water doesn’t seem soft. How can I be sure that my system is
regenerating properly?
Be sure that the water supply to the softener is not by-passed. Follow the
instructions on page 14 to manually regenerate the softener tanks. If the unit does
not begin advancing to the next regeneration automatically, please contact your
local, authorized Kinetico dealer for further assistance.
I can hear my Kinetico system running or regenerating during the day.
My old softener only used to run at night. Is this normal?
Single tank, electric water softeners tend to be set to regenerate at night because
of the unavailability of soft water during the regeneration process. Unlike traditional
water softeners, Kinetico systems operate on demand based on your water usage,
without timers or electronics. So your system regenerates whenever necessary,
at any time of day. And Kinetico’s twin tank design allows one tank to provide
treated water while the other regenerates, so you’ll never be without soft water.
How will I know when it is time to add salt?
Lift the lid of the brine tank to check the level of salt. If you can see water, it is time
to add salt. You can add salt anytime there is enough room to accommodate at
least one bag. However, keep in mind that keeping the brine tank completely full
of salt can contribute to salt bridging (see page 15).
Is it OK to drink soft water?
Yes, soft water is OK for drinking and cooking. If your softener regenerates with
sodium chloride (salt), keep in mind that there will be a small amount of sodium
added to the softened water (see page 13). People who are on sodium-restricted
diets should consider the added sodium as part of their overall sodium intake. For
the highest quality drinking water possible, a Kinetico reverse osmosis drinking
water system will remove as much as 98 percent of total dissolved solids from your
water.

17
If at any time you feel your Kinetico water system is not operating properly, put
the system in by-pass and call your local, authorized Kinetico dealer. To assure
that the barium and radium reduction capability of the system is maintained, make
sure the system is working eectively. Soft water indicates that the reduction of
contaminants will occur as expected. Contact your local dealer for information
and directions for the procedure to test your water hardness.
Kinetico Premier Series® XP Water Softeners are tested and certified by WQA
against the requirements of NSF/ANSI Standard 44 for softener performance
and chemical reduction of barium and radium 226/228. They are also certified
to NSF/ANSI 372, Drinking Water System - Lead Content and the CSA
Standard B483.1 - Drinking Water Treatment Systems.
*Q850 OD XP w/Chloraban® is not Tested and Certified by WQA.

18
gloSSary of termS
Automatic: Softeners or back-washing filters that start regeneration via clock.
Backwash: High velocity rinsing of softening resin or filtration, normally upflow.
Brine: Salt solution used to regenerate resin.
Brine Tank: Holds salt to make brine for regeneration.
By-pass: Manually operated valves to divert flow around POE equipment, or,
automatic diversion of flow inside a controller for single tank POE
during regeneration.
Carbon: Activated carbon found in POE equipment for dechlorination, taste
and odor reduction.
Chloraban®: High performance filtration media with exceptional chloramine
reduction capability, for taste and odor reduction.
Combination System: Duplex combination filter / softener system using four
separated media tanks and one control.
Counter-current: Direction of service flow and regeneration flow are opposite.
DIR: Demand initiated regeneration.
Downflow: Direction of water flow with gravity through resin or filtration media.
Eciency: Referring to grains of hardness removed / pound of salt for a
water softener.
gpg: Grains per gallon of hardness.
1 US gpg = 17.1 ppm of hardness as CaCO3.
gpm: Gallons per minute.
gpp: Grains per pound (salt eciency).
Macrolite® RX: Engineered ceramic filtration media.
Meter: Device to measure flow to service from POE softener or filter for DIR.
Micron: Micrometer (µm) for solid particle diameter.
Overdrive: Parallel service flow, i.e., water flows through both tanks simultaneously.
ppm: Parts per million.

19
Peak flow rate: Maximum design process flow for intermittent high demand
through POE filter or softener.
POE: Point of Entry. A system installed where water enters the home.
psi: Pounds per square inch.
Regeneration: The process of restoring exchange capacity to a softener.
Resin: For POE softeners, strong acid cation exchange beads operating in the
sodium or potassium form.
Sanitize: The periodic addition of a sanitizing agent such as chlorine to
attempt microbiological control.
Service flow: Process water flow rate through a POE system, often measured
at the point of 15 psi lost.
Simplex: Softener or filter using one media tank.
Upflow: Direction of water flow against gravity through resin or filtration media.
By-pass Valve
Softening System Diagram
Regeneration Cycle
Indicator
Control Valve
Brine Tank
Resin Tanks

20
maintenance record
Recommended Salt Type: ____________________________________________
Recommended Salt Usage: _____________ lb per _____________ month(s)
Recommended Filter: __________________________________________ microns
Recommended Filter Changes: Every ___________________________ month(s)
Date Lb of Salt Date of Filter Change
The figures above are recommendations based on average usage and water quality.